For the record: Songs about people

The 1966 classic song was featured on the album “Revolver.” Originally the name of the song’s subject was Miss Daisy Hawkins. While songwriter Paul McCartney claims he made up the name “Eleanor Rigby,” he also admitted he may have been subconsciously influenced by the name on a gravestone in the graveyard of a local church. The real Rigby died 78 years ago this week at the age of 44. Her Liverpool grave is now a landmark to Beatles’ fans.

“Brian Wilson”

Barenaked Ladies

The tribute to the Beach Boys’ co-founder Brian Wilson was released in 1992 by the Canadian band. The 1992 song was written by singer/guitarist Steven Page in his parents’ basement on his 20th birthday in 1990, and tells the tale of a man whose life parallels that of Wilson. The track was included on the album “Gordon.”

“Alex Chilton”

The Replacements

The 1987 tune by the American rock band was featured on its fifth studio album, “Pleased to Meet Me.” The song is an homage to Chilton, lead singer of The Box Tops and Big Star, who was a guest musician on the band’s album “Pleased to Meet Me.”

“Buddy Holly”

Weezer

The 1994 tune, by the American rock band was written by Rivers Cuomo, who is also a Connecticut native. The tune was released as the second single from the band’s self-titled debut, released on what would have been Holly’s 58th birthday.

“Sweet Caroline”

Neil Diamond

Diamond said he wrote the 1969 song, which is known for being heard in sports arenas now, about young Caroline Kennedy. Diamond said he saw a cover of a 1962 Life magazine, where the late President’s daughter was riding a horse, and was inspire.

Where is Diane Sawyer when you need her? You remember Sawyer, the polished network anchor who was only given the coveted anchor spot at ABC World News when the nightly news no longer mattered. In the minds of the patriarchy…

DON’T MISS “THE CAROL BURNETT 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL” My, how time flies. It has been five decades since Burnett and her band of merry jokers took TV by storm with their groundbreaking variety show. In this two-hour special, Burnett reminisces…

NEW YORK – Matt Lauer’s firing for what NBC said was “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a colleague stunned viewers Wednesday, rocked the network and made the “Today” show host the best-known figure in America brought down so far by the…

Associated Press He hand-picked his successor, mandolinist and frequent musical guest Chris Thile, who is now in his second season as “Prairie Home” host. After Keillor retired, Thile tweeted Wednesday that he was “in shock” by the firing. He said…

It’s time to match toys with some tunes. Cross-eyed Cat will host its fifth annual Toys for Tots show on Saturday at Waterbury’s Shamrock Pub and Grill. Every year, the group hosts a special performance when the band collects new,…

Most local symphonies pull out all the pops for their Christmas Concerts. The Waterbury Symphony has generally followed suit. But this year, the WSO’s 80th, the symphony is going back to the distant past with a concert that features more…

Three of the talented and highly experienced actors in Landmark Community Theater’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” know full well how important this play is to the audience. Many families make it an annual holiday tradition to watch the…

In keeping with the season, Town Players Little Theatre of Newtown produced a most appropriate play “The Trip to Bountiful,” by playwright Horton Foote. This is the story of Carrie Watts, an old widow who desperately wants to return to…

Michelle Gotay is trading an apron for a nun’s habit this Christmas season. The Watertown actress – who is known for her alter ego, diner owner Earlene Babcock, on stage and radio – will star in “Nuncrackers,” which opens this…

There are numerous big decisions to be made during the holidays, from gift selections to menu creations. You are on your own with those issues, but we can offer some help when it comes to selecting television programming. This year’s…

In Ghana, they called them “crowd pullers.” We might call them “billboards” or, better still, “click bait.” And many of us who took a gander might find ourselves shocked, appalled, freaked out or just plain stymied by these ghoulishly captivating…

When Jennifer Zembruski, Chase Collegiate School’s director of performing and visual arts, asked the chair of the English Department what play she would most like to see performed at the school, English Department head Mary Sharnick knew it had to…

I recently received an email from a theatergoing reader who was disappointed that even after the audience stood in ovation and applauded for a long time, the cast of a musical did not provide an encore. While I’ve already written…

An 11-year-old piano prodigy and hometown jazz star will perform in honor of the Litchfield Jazz Festival this holiday season. Pianist Brandon Goldberg and vocalist Nicole Zuraitis will perform Dec. 9 at the Litchfield Community Center. The event, titled “Jingle…

“I Thank You” Sam & Dave Originally written by David Porter and Isaac Hayes, the song was recorded by Sam & Dave for release in 1968. It reached number nine on the Billboard pop singles chart. ZZ Top covered the…

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are expanding their family. The model and the musician used social media Tuesday to announce they’re expecting their second child together. Teigen posted a video on Instagram that shows the couple’s…

NEW YORK (AP) — CBS News and PBS both cut ties to Charlie Rose on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after several women who worked with him on his PBS interview show alleged a pattern of sexual misconduct, including groping…

BERLIN (AP) — German police say they have arrested a man suspected of handling stolen objects from the estate of John Lennon, including diaries. Berlin police said the 58-year-old suspect, whom they didn’t identify, was arrested in the German capital…